[66] 
MESSAGE 

FROM 

THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

TRANSMITTING 

THE  TREATY  OF  PEACE  AND  AMITY 

BETWEEN 

THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  HIS  BRITANNIC  MAJESTY. 


February  20,  1815. 
READ  AND  ORDERED  TO  BE  PRINTED. 


WASHINGTON  CITY; 

PRINTED  BY  ROGER  C.  WEIGHTMAN, 
1815, 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gif  t  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


056] 


MESSAGE. 


To  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 

States. 

I  lay  before  congress  copies  of  the  treaty  of  peace 
and  amity  between  the  United  States  and  his  Bri 
tannic  majesty,  which  was  signed  by  the  commis- 
sioners of  both  parties  at  Ghent,  on  the  24th  of  De- 
cember, 1814,  and  the  ratifications  of  which  have 
been  duly  exchanged. 

While  performing  this  act,  I  congratulate  you, 
and  our  constituents,  upon  an  event  which  is  high- 
ly honorable  to  the  nation,  and  terminates  with 
peculiar  felicity,  a  campaign  signalized  by  the  most 
brilliant  successes. 

The  late  war,  although  reluctantly  declared  by 
congress,  had  become  a  necessary  resort,  to  assert 
the  rights  and  independence  of  the  nation.  It  has 
been  waged  with  a  success  which  is  the  natural  re- 
sult of  the  wisdom  of  the  legislative  councils,  of  the 
patriotism  of  the  people,  of  the  public  spirit  of  the 
militia,  and  ofthe  valor  of  the  military  and  naval 
forces  of  the  country.  Peace,  at  all  times  a  blessing, 
is  peculiarly  welcome,  therefore,  at  a  period  when 
the  causes  for  the  war  have  ceased  to  operate;  when 
the  government  has  demonstrated  the  efficiency  ei' 
its  powers  of  defence;  and  when  the  nation  can  re- 
view its  conduct  without  regret,  and  without  re- 
proach. 

I  recommend  to  your  care  and  benificence, 
the  gallant  men  whose  achievements,  in  every  de- 
partment of  the  military  service,  on  the  land  and  on 
the  water,  have  so  essentially  contributed  to  the 
honor  ofthe  American  name,  and  to  the  restora- 


4 


[06] 


tion  of  peace.  The  feelings  of  conscious  patriotism 
and  worth,  will  animate  such  men,  under  every 
change  of  fortune  and  pursuit;  but  their  country 
performs  a  duty  to  itself,  when  it  bestows  those 
testimonials  of  approbation  and  applause,  which 
are,  at  once,  the  reward  and  the  incentive  to  great 
actions. 

The  reduction  of  the  public  expenditures  to  the 
demands  of  a  peace  establishment,  will,  doubtless, 
engage  the  immediate  attention  of  congress.  There 
are,  however,  important  considerations  which  for- 
bid a  sudden  and  general  revocation  of  the  mea- 
sures that  have  been  produced  by  the  war.  Ex- 
perience has  taught  us  that  neither  the  pacific  dis 
positions  of  the  American  people,  nor  the  pacific 
character  of  their  political  institutions,  can  altoge- 
ther exempt  them  from  that  strife  which  appears, 
beyond  the  ordinary  lot  of  nations,  to  be  incident 
to  the  actual  period  of  the  world;  and  the  same 
faithful  monitor  demonstrates  that  a  certain  degree 
of  preparation  for  war,  is  not  only  indispensable 
to  avert  disasters  in  the  onset,  but  affords  also  the 
best  security  for  the  continuance  of  peace.  The 
wisdom  of  congress  will,  therefore,  1  am  confident, 
provide  for  the  maintenance  of  an  adequate  regu 
lar force;  for  the  gradual  advancement  of  the  naval 
establishment;  for  improving  all  the  means  of  bar 
bor  defence;  for  adding  discipline  to  the  distin- 
guished bravery  of  the  militia;  and  for  cultivating 
the  military  art,  in  its  essential  branches,  under  the 
liberal  patronage  of  government. 

The  resources  of  our  country  were,  at  all  times, 
competent  to  the  attainment  of  every  national  ob- 
ject; but  they  will  now  be  enriched  and  inv  gorat- 
ed  by  the  activity  which  peace  will  introduce  into 
all  the  scenes  of  domestic  enterprise  and  labor. 
The  provision  that  has  been  made  for  the  public 
creditors,  during  the  present  session  of  congress, 
n:  Ubi  have  a  decisive  effect  in  the  establishment  of 


[66j 


the  publfc  credit;  both  at  home  and  abroad.  The 
reviving  interests  of  commerce  will  claim  the  legis 
lative  attention  at  the  earliest  opportunity;  and 
such  regulations  will,  I  trust,  be  seasonably  de- 
vised as  shall  secure  to  the  United  States  their 
just  proportion  of  the  navigation  of  the  world. 
The  most  liberal  policy  towards  other  nations,  it 
met  by  corresponding  dispositions,  will,  in  this  re 
spect,  be  found  the  most  beneficial  policy  towards 
ourselves.    Rut  there  is  no  subjectt  hat  can  enter 
with  greater  force  and  merit  into  the  deliberations 
of  congress,  than  a  consideration  oft  he  means  to 
preserve  and  promote  the  manufactures  which  have 
sprung  into  existence,  and  attained  an  ui  parallel- 
ed maturity  throughout  the  United  States  during 
the  period  of  the  European  wais     This  source  of 
national  independence  and  wealth,  I  anxiously 
recommend,  therefore,to  the  prompt  and  constant 
guardianship  of  congress. 

The  termination  of  the  legislative  sessions  will 
soon  separate  you,  fellow  citizens,  from  each  other, 
and  restore  you  to  your  constituents.    I  pray  you 
to  bear  with  you  the  expressions  of  my  sanguine 
hope,  that  the  peace  which  has  been  just  declared, 
will  not  only  be  the  foundation  of  the  most  friend- 
ly intercourse  bt  tween  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain,  but  that  it  will  also  be  productive  of 
happiness  and  harmony  in  every  section  of  our 
beloved  country.    The  influence  of  your  precepts 
and  example  must  be  every  where  powerful:  and 
while  we  accord  in  grateful  acknowledgments  for 
the  protection  which  Providence  has  bestowed 
upon  us,  let  us  never  cease  to  inculcate  obedience 
to  the  laws,  and  fidelity  to  the  union,  as  constitut- 
ing the  palladium  of  the  national  independence 
and  prosperity. 

JAMES  MADISON  • 

Washington,  February  18j  1815 


6 


[66] 


Treaty  of  peace  and  amity  between  his  Britannic  majesty 
and  the  United  States  of  America. 

His  Britannic  majesty  and  the  United  States  of 
Ameriea,  desirous  of  terminating  the  war  which 
has  unhappily  subsisted  between  the  two  coun- 
tries, and  of  restoring,  upon  prineiples  of  perfect 
reciprocity,  peace,  friendship,  and  good  under- 
standing, between  them,  have,  for  that  purpose, 
appointed  their  respective  plenipotentiaries  that 
is  to  say:  his  Britannic  majesty,  on  his  part,  has 
appointed  the  1  i^ht  honorable  James  lord  Gam- 
bier,  late  admiral  of  the  white,  now  admiral  ol 
the  red  squadron  of  his  majesty's  fleet,  Henry 
Goulburn,  esquire,  a  member  of  the  imperial  par 
liament,  and  Under-Secretary  of  state,  and  Wil- 
liam Adams,  esquire,  doctor  of  civil  laws:  and  the 
president  of  the  United  States,  by  and  with  the 
advice  and  consent  of  the  senate  thereof,  has  ap- 
pointed John  Quincy  Adams,  James  A.  Bayard, 
Henry  Clay,  Jonathan  Russell,  and  Albert  Galla- 
tin, citizens  of  the  United  States,  who,  after  a  re- 
ciprocal communication  of  their  respective  full 
powers,  have  agreed  upon  the  following  articles: 

ARTICLE  THE  FIRST. 

There  shall  be  a  firm  and  universal  peace,  be- 
tween his  Britannic  majesty  and  the  United  States, 
and  between  their  respective  countries,  territories, 
cities,  towns,  and  people,  of  every  degree,  without 
exception  of  places  or  persons.  All  hostilities, 
both  by  sea  and  land,  shall  cease  as  soon  as  this 
treaty  shall  have  been  ratified  by  both  parties,  as 
herein  after  mentioned.  All  territory,  places,  and 
possessions,  whatsoever,  taken  by  either  party  from 
the  other,  during  the  war,  or  which  maybe  taken 
after  the  signing  of  this  treaty,  excepting  only  the 
islands  hereinafter  mentioned,  shall  be  restored 
without  delay,  and  without  causing  any  destruc- 
tion, or  carrying  away  any  of  the  artiUery  or  other 


[66J 


7 


public  property  originally  captured  m  the  said 
forts  or  places,  and  which  shall  remain  therein 
upon  the  exchange  of  the  ratifications  of  this  trea- 
ty, or  any  slaves  or  other  private  property.  And 
all  archives,  records,  deeds,  and  papers,  either  of 
a  public  nature,  or  belonging  to  private  persons, 
which,  in  the  course  of  the  war,  may  have  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  officers  of  either  party,  shall 
be,  as  far  as  may  be  practicable,  forthwith  restor- 
ed and  delivered  to  the  proper  authorities  and 
persons  to  whom  they  respectively  belong.  Such 
of  the  islands  in  the  bay  of  Passamaquoddy  as  are 
claimed  by  both  parties,  shall  remain  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  party  in  whose  occupation  they 
may  be  at  the  time  of  the  exchange  of  the  ratifica- 
tions of  this  treaty,  until  the  decision  respecting 
the  title  to  the  said  islands,  shall  have  been  made 
in  conformity  with  the  fourth  article  of  this  treaty. 
No  disposition  made  by  this  treaty,  as  to  such 
possession  of  the  islands  and  territories  claimed  by 
both  parties,  shall,  in  any  manner  whatever,  be 
construed  to  affect  the  right  of  either. 

ARTICLE  THE  SECOND. 

Immediately  after  the  ratifications  of  this  treaty 
by  both  parties,  as  hereinafter  mentioned,  orders 
shall  be  sent  to  the  armies,  squadrons,  officers, 
subjects,  and  citizens,  of  the  two  powers,  to  cease 
from  all  hostilities.    And  to  prevent  all  causes  of 
complaint  which  might  arise  on  account  of  the 
prizes  which  may  be  taken  at  sea  after  the  said  rati- 
fications of  this  treaty,  it  is  reciprocally  agreed,  that 
all  vessels  and  effects  which  may  be  taken  after 
the  space  of  twelve  days  from  the  said  ratifica- 
tions, upon  all  parts  of  the  coast  of  North  Ame- 
rica, from  the  latitude  of  twenty  three  degrees 
noith,  to  the  latitude  of  fifty  degrees  north,  and  as 
far  eastward  in  the  Atlantic  ocean  as  the  thirty- 
sixth  degree  of  west  longitude  from  the  meridian 


8 


[66] 


of  Greenwich,  shall  be  restored  on  each  side:  that 
the  time  shall  be  thiity  days  in  all  other  parts  of 
the  Atlantic  ocean  north  of  the  equinoxial  line  or 
equator;  and  the  same  time  for  the  British  and 
Irish  channels,  for  the  gulf  of  Mexico  and  all 
parts  of  the  West  Indies:  forty  days  for  the  north 
seas,  for  the  Baltic,  and  for  all  parts  of  the  Medi- 
terranean: sixty  days  for  the  Atlantic  ocean  south 
of  the  equator,  as  far  as  the  latitude  of  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope:  ninety  days  for  every'  part  of  the 
world  south  of  the  equator:  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty  days  for  all  other  parts  of  the  world,  with- 
out exception. 

ARTICLE  THE  THIRD. 

All  prisoners  of  war  taken  on  cither  side,  as 
well  by  land  as  by  sea,  shall  be  restored  as  soon  as 
practicable  after  the  ratifications  of  this  treaty,  as 
hereinafter  mentioned,  on  their  paying  the  debts 
which  they  may  have  contracted  during  their  cap- 
tivity. The  two  contracting  parties  respectively 
engage  to  discharge, in  specie,  the  advances  which 
may  have  been  made  by  the  other  for  the  suste- 
nance and  maintenance  of  such  prisoners. 

ARTICLE  THE  FOURTH. 

Whereas  it  was  stipulated  by  the  second  article 
m  the  treaty  of  peace,  of  one  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  eighty  three,  between  his  Britannic  ma- 
jesty and  the  United  States  of  America,  that  the 
boundary  of  the  United  States  should  compre 
bend  all  islands  within  twenty  leagues  of  any 
part  of  the  shores  of  the  United  States,  and  lying 
between  lines  to  be  drawn  due  east  from  the 
points  where  the  aforesaid  boundaries,  between 
Nova  Scotia,  on  the  one  part,  and  East  Florida  on 
the  other,  shall  respectively  touch  the  bay  of  Fun- 
dy  and  the  Atlantic  ocean,  excepting  such  islands 
as  now  are,  or  heretofore  have  been,  within  the  li- 


[66] 


0- 


raits  of  Nova  Scotia;  and  whereas  the  several  is- 
lands in  the  bay  ot  Passamaquoddy,  which  is  part 
of  the  bay  of  Fundy,  and  the  island  of  Grand  Me- 
non.  in  the  said  bay  ot  Fundy,  are  claimed  by 
the  United  Spates,  as  being  comprehended  within 
their  aforesaid  boundaries,  which  said  islands  are 
claimed  a^  belonging  to  his  Britannic  majesty,  as 
having  been  at  the  time  of,  and  previous  to.  the 
aforesaid  treaty  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  eighty  three,  within  the  limits  of  the  province 
of  Nova  Scotia.    In  order,  therefore,  final iy  to 
decide  upon  these  claims,  it  is  agreed  that  they 
shall  be  referred  to  two  commissioners,  to  be  ap- 
pointed in  the  following  manner,  viz:    One  com- 
missioner shall  be  appointed  by  his  Britannic  ma- 
jesty, and  one  by  the  president  of  the  United 
States,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
senate  thereof;  and  the  said  two  commissioners  so 
appointed  shall  be  sworn  impartially  to  examine 
and  decide  upon  the  said  claims  according  to  such 
evidence  as  shall  be  laid  before  them  on  the  part 
of  his  B  itaumc  ma  jesty  and  of  the  United  States 
respectively    The  said  commissioners  shall  meet 
at  St.  Andrews,  in  the  province  of  New  B  uns- 
wick,  and  shall  have  power  to  adjourn  to  such 
other  place  or  places  as  they  shall  think  tit  The 
said  commissioners  shall,  by  a  declaration  or  re- 
port under  their  hands  and  seals  decide  to  which 
of  the  two  contracting  parties  the  several  islands 
aforesaid  do  respectively  belong,  in  conformity 
with  the  true  intent  of  the  said  treaty  of  peace  of 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eigh  y  three. 
And  if  the  said  commissioners  shall  agree  in  their 
decision,  botn  parties  shall  consider  such  decision 
as  fioal  aod  conclusive.    It  is  further  agreed,  that 
in  the  event  of  the  two  commissioners  differing 
up  >n  ail  or  any  of  the  matters  so  referred  to  them, 
or  in  the  event  of  botn  or  either  of  the  said  com4- 


10 


missioners  refusing  or  declining,  or  wilfully  omit- 
ting to  act  as  such,  they  shall  make,  jointly  or  se- 
parately, a  report  or  repents,  as  well  to  the  govern- 
ment of  his  Britannic  majesty  as  to  that  of  the  Unit- 
ed States,  stating,  in  detail,  the  points  on  which  they 
differ,  and  the  grounds  upon  which  their  respective 
opinions  have  been  formed,  or  the  grounds  upon  which 
they  or  cither  of  them,  have  so  refused,  declined  or 
omitted  to  act.  And  his  Britannic  majesty  and  the 
government  of  the  United  States  hereby  agree  to 
refer  the  report  or  reports  of  the  said  commissioners 
to  some  friendly  sovereign  or  state,  to  be  then  nam- 
ed for  that  purpose,  and  who  shall  be  requested 
to  decide  on  the  differences  which  may  be  stated  in 
the  said  report  or  reports,  or  upon  the  report  of 
one  commissioner,  together  with  the  grounds  up- 
on which  the.  other  commissioner  shall  have  refus- 
ed, declined  or  omitted  to  act,  as  the  case  may  be. 
And  if  the  commissioner  so  refusing,  declining,  or 
omitting  to  act,  shall  also  wilfully  omit  to  state  the 
grounds  upon  which  he  has  so  done,  in  such  manner 
that  the  said  statement  may  be  referred  to  such 
friendly  sovereign  or  state,  together  with  the  report 
of  such  other  commissioner,  then  such  sovereign  or 
state  shall  decide  ex  parte  upon  the  said  report  alone. 
And  his  Britannic  majesty  and  the  government  of 
the  United  States  engage  to  consider  the  decision  of 
such  friendly  sovereign  or  state  to  be  final  and  con- 
clusive on  all  the  matters  so  referred. 

ARTICLE  THE  FIFTH. 

Whereas  neither  that  point  of  the  highlands  lying 
due  north  from  the  source  of  the  river  St.  Croix,  and 
designated  in  the  former  treaty  of  peace  between  the 
two  powers,  as  the  north-west  angle  of  Nova  Scotia, 
nor  the  north-western  most  head  of  Connecticut  river, 
has  yet  been  ascertained  :  and  whereas  that  part  of 
the  boundary  line  between  the  dominions  of  the  two 


[66] 


11 


powers,  wliicli  extends  from  the  source  of  the  river 
St.  Croix  directly  north  to  the  abovementioned  north- 
west angle  of  Nova  Scotia,  thence  along  the  said  high- 
lands which  divide  those  rivers  that  empty  themselves 
into  the  river  St.  Lawrence  from  those  which  fall  in- 
to the  Atlantic  ocean,  to  the  north- westernmost  head 
of  Connecticut  river,  thence  down  along  the  middle 
of  that  river  to  the  forty-fifth  degree  of  north  latitude, 
thence  by  a  line  due  west  on  said  latitude,  until  it 
strikes  the  river  Iroquois  or  Cataraguy,  has  not  yet 
been  surveyed ;  it  is  agreed,  that  for  these  several  pur- 
poses two  commissioners  shail  be  appointed,  sworn 
and  authorized  to  act  exactly  in  the  manner  directed 
with  respect  to  those  mentioned  in  the  next  preced- 
ing article,  unless  otherwise  specified  in  the  present 
article.    The  said  commissioners  shall  meet  at  St. 
Andrews,  in  the  province  of  New  Brunswick,  and 
shall  have  power  to  adjourn  to  such  other  place  or 
places,  as  they  shall  think  fit.   The  said  commission- 
ers shall  have  power  to  ascertain  and  determine  the 
points  above-mentioned,  in  conformity  with  the  provi- 
sions of  the  said  treaty  of  peace  of  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eighty-three,  and  shall  cause  the 
boundary  aforesaid,  from  the  source  of  the  river  St. 
Croix  to  the  river  Iroquois  or  Cataraguy,  to  be  survey- 
ed and  marked,  according  to  the  said  provisions.  The 
said  commissioners  shall  make  a  map  of  the  said 
boundary,  and  annex  to  it  a  declaration  under  their 
hands  and  seals,  certifying  it  to  be  the  true  map  of  the 
said  boundary,  and  particularizing  the  latitude  and 
longitude  of  the  north-west  angle  of  Nova  Scotia,  of 
the  north-westernmost  head  of  Connecticut  river,  and 
of  such  oilier  points  of  the  said  boundary,  as  they 
may  deem  proper.    And  both  parties  agree  to  consi- 
der such  map  and  declaration  as  finally  and  conclu- 
sively fixing  the  said  boundary.  And  in  the  event  of 
the  said  two  commissioners  diilering,  or  both,  or 
either  of  them  refusing,  declining,  or  wilfully  omitting 
to  act,  such  reports,  declarations  or  statements  shall 


[60] 


be  made  by  them,  or  either  of  them,  and  such  refer- 
cuee  to  a  friendly  sovereign  or  state  shall  be  made, 
in  all  respects,  as  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fourth  arti- 
cle is  contained,  and  in  as  full  a  manner  as  if  the 
same  was  herein  repeated. 

ARTICLE  THE  SIXTH. 

Whereas,  by  the  former  treaty  of  peace  that  por- 
tion of  the  boundary  of  the  United  States  from  the 
point  where  the  forty-fifth  degree  of  north  latitude 
strikes  the  river  Iroquois  or  Cataraguy  to  the  lake 
Superior,  was  declared  to  be  u  along  the  middle  of 
said  river  into  hike  Ontario,  through  the  middle  of 
said  lake  until  it  strikes  the  communication  by  water 
between  that  lake  and  lake  Erie,  thence  along  the 
middle  of  said  communication  into  lake  Erie,  through 
the  middle  of  said  lake  until  it  arrives  at  the  water 
communication  into  the  lake  Huron  ;  thence  through 
the  middle  of  said  lake  to  the  water  communication 
between  that  lake  and  lake  Superior."  And  whereas 
doubts  have  arisen  what  was  the  middle  of  the  said  ri- 
ver, lakes  and  water  communications,  and  whether 
certain  islands  lying  in  the  same  were  within  the  do- 
minions of  his  Britannic  majesty  or  of  the  United 
States :  In  order,  therefore,  finally  to  decide  these 
doubts,  they  shall  be  referred  to  two  commissioners, 
to  be  appointed,  sworn,  and  authorized  to  act  exactly 
in  the  manner  directed  with  respect  to  those  mention- 
ed in  the  next  preceding  article,  unless  otherwise 
specified  in  this  present  article.  The  said  commis- 
sioners shall  meet,  in  the  first  instance,  at  Albany,  in 
the  state  of  New  York,  and  shall  have  power  to  ad- 
journ to  such  other  place  or  places  as  they  shall  think 
fit :  the  said  commissioners  shall,  by  a  report  or  decla- 
ration, under  their  hands  and  seals,  designate  the 
boundary  through  the  said  river,  lakes,  and  water 
communications,  and  decide  to  which  of  the  two  con- 
tracting parties  the  several  islands  lying  within  the 
$9id  river,  lakes,  and  water  communications,  do  res- 


[63] 


13 


pectively  belongs  in  conformity  with  the  true  intent  of 
the  said  treaty  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
eighty-three.  And  both  parties  agree  to  consider 
such  designation  and  decision  as  final  and  conclusive. 
And  in  the  event  of  the  said  two  commissioners  dif- 
fering, or  both,  or  either  of  them,  refusing,  declining, 
or  wilfully  omitting  to  act,  such  reports,  declarations 
or  statements,  shall  be  made  by  them,  or  either  of 
them,  and  such  reference  to  a  friendly  sovereign  or 
state  shall  be  made  in  all  respects  as  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  fourth  article  is  contained,  and  in  as  full  a 
manner  as  if  the  same  was  herein  repeated. 

ARTICLE  THE  SEVENTH. 

It  is  further  agreed  that  the  said  two  last  men- 
tioned commissioners,  after  they  shall  have  executed 
the  duties  assigned  to  them  in  the  preceding  article, 
shall  be,  and  they  are  hereby  authorized,  upon  their 
oaths,  impartially  to  fix  and  determine,  according  to  the 
true  intent  of  the  said  treaty  of  peace  of  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eighty-three,  that  part  of  the  boun- 
dary between  the  dominions  of  the  two  powers,  which 
extends  from  the  water  communication  between  lake 
Huron  and  lake  Superior  to  the  most  north-western 
point  of  the  lake  of  the  Woods,  to  decide  to  which  of 
the  two  parties  the  several  islands  lying  in  the  lakes, 
water  communications  and  rivers  forming  the  said 
boundary,  do  respectively  belong,  in  conformity  with 
the  true  intent  of  the  said  treaty  of  peace  of  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  arid  eighty-three  ;  and  to  cause 
such  parts  of  the  said  boundary,  as  require  it,  to  be 
surveyed  and  marked.  The  said  commissioners  shall, 
by  a  report  or  declaration  under  their  hands  and  seals, 
designate  the  boundary  aforesaid,  state  their  decision 
on  the  points  thus  referred  to  them,  and  particularize 
the  latitude  and  longitude  of  the  most  north-western 
point  of  the  lake  of  the  "Woods,  and  of  such  other 
parts  of  the  said  boundary  as  they  may  deem  pro- 
per.   And  both  parties  agree  to  consider  such  desig- 


14 


[66] 


nation  and  decision  as  final  and  conclusive.  And  in 
the  event  of  the  said  two  commissioners  differing,  or 
both,  or  eilher  of  tlnun  refusing,  declining,  or  wilfully 
omitting  to  act,  such  reports,  declarations  or  state- 
ments shall  be  made  by  them,  or  cither  of  them,  and 
such  reference  to  a  friendly  sovereign  or  state  shall 
be  made  in  all  respects  as  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
fourth  article  is  contained,  and  in  as  full  a  manner  as 
if  the  same  was  herein  repeated. 

ARTICLE  THE  EIGHTH. 

The  several  hoards  of  two  commissioners  men- 
tioned in  the  four  preceding  articles,  shall  respec- 
tively have  power  to  appoint  a  secretary,  and  to  em- 
ploy such  surveyors,  or  other  persons,  as  they  shall 
judge  necessary.  Implicates  of  all  their  respective 
reports,  declarations,  statements,  and  decisions,  and 
of  their  aceouuts,  and  of  the  journal  of  their  proceed- 
ings, shall  he  delivered  by  them  to  the  agents  of  his 
Britannic  majesty,  and  to  the  agents  of  the  United 
States,  who  may  be  respectively  appointed  and  au- 
thorized to  manage  the  business  on  behalf  of  their 
respective  governments.  The  said  commissioners 
shall  be  respectively  paid  in  such  manner  as  shall  be 
agreed  between  the  two  contracting  parties,  such 
agreement  being  to  be  settled  at  the  tima-  of  the  ex- 
change of  the  ratifications  of  this  treatv.  And  all 
other  expenses  attending  the  said  commissioners, 
shall  be  defrayed  equally  by  the  two  parties.  And 
in  the  case  of  death,  sickness,  resignation,  or  neces- 
sary absence,  the  place  of  every  such  commissioner 
respectively  shall  be  supplied  in  the  same  manner  as 
such  commissioner  wTas  first  appointed,  and  the  new 
commissioner  shall  take  the  same  oath  or  affirmation, 
and  do  the  same  duties.  It  is  further  agreed  between 
the  two  contracting  parties,  that  in  case  any  of  the 
islands  mentioned  in  any  of  the  preceding  articles 
which  w  ere  in  the  possession  of  one  of  the  parties 
prior  to  the  commencement  of  the  present  war  be- 


[66] 


15 


tween  the  two  countries,  should,  by  the  decision  of 
any  of  the  boards  of  commissioners  aforesaid,  or  of 
the  sovereign  or  state  so  referred  10,  as  in  the  four 
next  preceding  articles  contained,  fall  within  the  do- 
minions of  the  other  party,  all. grants  of  land  made 
previous  to  the  commencement  of  the  war  by  the  party 
having  had  such  possession,  shall  be  as  valid  as  if 
such  island  or  islands  had  by  such  decision  or  deci- 
sions been  adjudged  to  be  within  the  dominions  of 
the  party  having  had  such  possession.  * 

ARTICLE  THE  NINTH. 

The  United  States  of  America  engage  to  put 
an  end,  immediately  after  the  ratification  of  the  pre- 
sent treaty,  to  hostilities  with  all  the  tribes  or  nations 
of  Indians,  with  whom  they  may  be  at  war  at  the 
time  of  such  ratification  ;  and  forthwith  to  restore  to 
sueh  tribes  or  nations,  respectively,  all  the  posses- 
sions, rights,  and  privileges,  which  they  may  have 
enjoyed  or  been  entitled  to  in  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  eleven,  previous  to  such  hostilities  : 
Provided  always,  That  such  tribes  or  nations  shall 
agree  to  desist  from  all  hostilities  against  the  United 
States  of  America,  their  citizens  and  subjects,  upon 
the  ratification  of  the  present  treaty  being  notified  to 
such  tribes  or  nations,  and  shall  so  desist  accordingly, 
Aud  his  Britannic  majesty  engages,  on  his  part,  to 
put  an  end,  immediately  after  the  ratification  of  the 
present  treaty,  to  hostilities  with  all  the  tribes  or  na- 
tions of  Indians  with  whom  he  may  he  at  war  at  the 
time  of  such  ratification ;  and  forthwith  to  restore  to 
such  tribes  or  nations,  respectively,  all  the  posses, 
sions,  rights,  and  privileges,  which  they  may  have 
enjoyed  or  been  entitled  to  in  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  eleven,  previous  to  such  hostilities : 
Provided  always,  That  such  tribes  or  nations  shall 
agree  to  desist  from  all  hostilities  against  his  Britan- 
nic majesty,  and  his  subjects,  upon  the  ratification  of 
the  present  treaty  being  notified  to  such  tribes  or  na- 
tions, and  shall  so  desist  accordingly. 


46 


[66] 


ARTICLE  THE  TENTH. 

Whereas  the  traffic  in  slaves  is  irreconcilable 
with  the  principles  of  humanity  and  justice:  And 
whereas  both  his  majesty  and  the  United  States  are 
desirous  of  continuing  their  efforts  to  promote  its  en- 
tire abolition;  it  is  hereby  agreed  that  botlj!  the  con- 
tracting parties  shall  use  their  best  endeavors  to  ac- 
complish so  desirable  an  object. 

ARTICLE  THE  ELEVENTH. 

This  treaty,  when  the  same  shall  have  been  ratified 
on  both  sides,  without  alteration  by  either  of  the  con- 
tracting parties,  and  the  ratifications  mutually  ex- 
changed, shall  be  binding  on  both  parties,  and  the 
ratifications  shall  be  exchanged  at  Washington,  in 
the  space  of  four  months  from  this  day,  or  sooner  if 
practicable. 

In  faith  whereof,  we,  the  respective  plenipotentia- 
ries, have  signed  this  treaty,  and  have  hereunto 
affixed  our  seals. 

Done,  in  triplicate,  at  Ghent,  the  twenty-fourth 
day  of  December,  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  fourteen. 
(l.  s.)  GAMBIER, 
(L.  s.)  HENRY  GOULBURN, 

L  s.)  WILLIAM  AD  AMS, 

L.  s.)  JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS, 

(l.  s.)  J.  A.  BAYARD, 

(l.  s.)  H.  CLAY, 

(l.  s.)  JON  A.  RUSS  ELL, 

(l.  s.)  ALBERT  GALLATIN. 


